Coin-actuated signaling apparatus



Feb. 2 1926.

P. G. T. DE VILLIERS com AGTUATED S'IGNALING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5,1920 Ira/@7160?" 2 62567" Q]? 42 6 IZZZz'ens.

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fit it Fig?! PETER GYSBEBT THOMAS DE VILLZ'ER$, OF PBEZGRIA, TEANSVAAL,SOUTH AFRICA,

ASSIGNOR OF (ENE-HALF T0 ARTHUR SOUTH AFRICA.

ROGEHS-JENJIQNS, OF DURBAN, NATAL,

COIN-ACTUATED EIGNALING APPARATUS.

Application filed December a, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that PETER Greener THOMAS on VILLLLERS, a British subject,residing at Department of Posts and T-elegraphs, eral post ofice,Pretoria, Transvaal Province, of the Union of South Africa, has inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Actuated SignalingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to apparatus such as is employed inpublic tele phone call ofices, in which a signal actuated by theinsertion oi a coin is transmitted to a central oitice to indicate thatthe necessary payment has been made.

It has especial reference to such appara tus in which the signal is madeby means oi a reed which is vibrated by the fall of a coin and by suchvibration makes and breaks an electric circuit to actuate a signal atthe central otfice.

One of the drawbacks of such apparatus as hitherto used, is that thereed can be caused to vibrate by striking the call box, and therebygiving a false signal.

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich Fig. I shows a coin chute and the reed, and

Fig. II is a horizontal section on AA Fig. I.

In the drawing, 1 indicates the usual bent coin chute through which thecoin passes from the insertion slot to the money box. 2 is the reedhaving an electric contact piece 3, which, upon the reed being vibrated,makes a trembling connection with the fixed contact 4: and therebyactuates the signal, indicating to the exchange operator that the coinhas been inserted. in the present usual construction, said reed projectsinto the coin path to be struck directly by the coin, and 18 at alltimes free, so that jarring of the box can set it in vibration.

According to the present invention, the reed is normally locked, and isunlocked and vibrated by the passage of the coin. For this purpose thereis provided a pivoted bell crank 5, 6, one arm 5 of which prO ects intothe coin path 7 in the chute 1. The other Serial No. 427,950.

arm 6 normally engages the free end of the reed holding it steady withthe contact 3 away from the contact 4. The end 8 of the reed is turnedto form a rest for the arm 6, said arm being so weighted with relationto the arm 5 that it falls by gravity into en-' gagement with the end 8.By making the rest 8 higher or lower the position of the arm 5 can bevaried, and consequently the time taken by the coin to pass said arm 5.

@n the reed immediately above the end 8 is a cross bar 9 which isengaged with and displaced by a roller 10 upon the arm 6 upon said armbeing raised.

The operation is that the reed 2 is normally held against vibration bythe arm 6 of the lever. Upon a coin falling down the chute 1, itdisplaces the arm 5 of the lever, and raises the arm 6. Such movementsnaps the roller 10 over the cross bar 9 and sets the reed vibrating.When the coin has passed the lever falls back to its normal position,and relocks the reed.

The time during which the reed vibrates is thus definitely determined;and without detriment to the clearness of the signal, this period can beso limited that in a multiple coin boa: several reeds can beindividually vibrated in rapid succession without confusion of theirsignals.

I claim:

1. In a coin actuated signal apparatus, a coin chute, signal producingmeans includ ing in part vibratile reed, means for locking said reedagainst vibration and means for vibrating it, and means, responsive tothe passage of a coin through the chute, for releasing said lockingmeans.

2. In coin actuated signaling apparatus, the combination with avibratile reed forming part of a signal mechanism, oi means to lock andvibrate said reed, said means being actuated by the passage of a coin tounlock the reed and vibrate the same.

3. In coin actuated signaling apparatus, the combination with a. coinchute, o'ta vibratile reed, and a bell crank one arm of which projectsinto the coin path of the chute, and the other arm of which normallylocks the reed, said bell crank being moved by the passage of a cointhrough the chute to unlock the reed.

4. In coin actuated signaling apparatus,

the combination with a coin chute, of a vi- 5 bratile reed, a bell crankone arm of which projects into the coin path of the chute, and

the other arm of which normally locks the reed, said bell crank beingmoved by the passage of a cointhrough the chute to unlock the reed, andco-operating means on the bell crank and the reed whereby such movementvibrates the reed.

In testimony whereof I afiir; my signature.

PETER GYSBERT THOMAS de VILLIERS.

